It’s no surprise that many Brits are feeling drained and disheartened about mass migration.
This issue is reshaping our country in ways that are both profound and irreversible.
Just take a look at the latest statistics that were released this week: last year alone, over a million people moved to Britain, most from outside Europe.
This pushed our net migration numbers to 622,000 in a single year, which is the equivalent of adding two cities the size of Nottingham to our population.
Immigration as a Key Driver of Population Growth
Immigration now plays a leading role in our population growth.
While the ‘natural change’—more births than deaths—contributed a modest 400 people to our population, immigration was responsible for a staggering increase of more than 600,000.
And despite what you might hear from politicians, these trends are set to continue accelerating. Over the next 12 years, our population is expected to grow by 6.5 million, or about 10 percent, with 90 percent of this increase driven by immigration.
That’s enough to fill five cities the size of Birmingham in just a few years.
Erosion of British Culture
The impact of these statistics is striking.
In major urban centers, traditional British culture is being eroded to the point where it’s often not even noticed.
In Bristol, for instance, there are now more than 90 languages spoken among 285 different ethnic groups.
This shift reflects a broader national fatigue with the issue, as it rarely makes headlines anymore.
Political Disillusionment
This weariness has had a significant impact on our democracy.
Trust in political parties and the political system as a whole is at a low point, with many voters feeling deceived and misled over the past 25 years.
Politicians have promised results on immigration but failed to deliver, or worse, have done the opposite of what they pledged.
This dissatisfaction was evident in the General Election, where support for the two main parties hit a historic low and voter turnout plummeted.
Today, seven out of ten Britons feel that neither Left nor Right parties represent their values.
So, what’s Labour’s plan in this escalating crisis? Sir Keir Starmer has called the immigration figures ‘shockingly high,’ yet the party has avoided setting any firm targets, signaling a lack of commitment to controlling inflows.
Despite outlining plans in the recent King’s Speech, the new Government seems uninterested in genuinely curbing migration.
Labour has scrapped the Rwanda plan, which was the only effective deterrent we had to discourage illegal crossings.
They’ve also pledged to overturn Rishi Sunak’s Illegal Migration Act, which aimed to address the issues of overcrowded dinghies and ruthless criminal gangs.
Although Labour promises to tackle these gangs, experts doubt this can be achieved without a deterrent like Rwanda.
Instead of practical measures, Labour appears to be opting for bureaucratic solutions.
They’ve introduced initiatives like the ‘Border Security Command,’ led by a former police or military chief, to oversee immigration enforcement.
This new agency will hire hundreds of investigators to tackle the gangs’ business models and ensure failed asylum seekers are returned.
However, since the majority of asylum seekers are granted leave to remain, this strategy may be more about appearances than substance.
Meanwhile, European governments are implementing much stricter measures with EU support.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to bolster anti-trafficking forces and increase surveillance over the Mediterranean.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned that illegal migrants will be ‘detained and repatriated,’ and many EU states are exploring Rwanda-style offshore processing agreements.
It’s ironic that the UK, which left the EU to regain control over its borders, is now lagging behind Europe in addressing the migration crisis.
Starmer’s lack of resolve could exacerbate the situation, as the number of immigrants crossing the Channel has risen 16 percent this year compared to last, according to Oxford University’s Migration Observatory.
Legal immigration will also continue to drive our population growth.
Last year, Labour proposed vague measures to deter employers from hiring low-skilled foreign workers at discounted wages.
However, these plans seem to have been abandoned, along with proposals to restrict visa-based employment unless companies also recruit and train British workers.
Strain on Infrastructure and Identity
As immigration continues to rise, our infrastructure is struggling to keep up.
We already face a housing crisis, a failing NHS, a shrinking Green Belt, inadequate public transport, and an overstretched police force.
On a deeper level, immigration is impacting our national identity and culture.
With each new wave of immigrants, our shared sense of community and cultural memory feels increasingly at risk.
The Democratic Challenge
As a professor of politics, I’m deeply concerned about the future of our democracy.
When millions of people feel their political system has abandoned them and fails to address their concerns, it creates a dangerous environment.
This discontent often leads people to the political extremes, as we’ve seen in the U.S. and France.
To strengthen our democracy, we need to address these pressing issues head-on.
Conclusion
We need a strong, credible deterrent to illegal migration and a new cap on legal migration.
The current number of over 600,000 should be reduced by half a million.
We should focus on welcoming migrants with valuable skills and contributions, rather than those who lack them and strain our economy and community.
The changes happening in Britain are unprecedented, and it’s time to acknowledge and address them.
The question remains: what will our leaders do about it?
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